Calibrachoa plant named &#39;danoaprinc&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DANOAPRINC’ is disclosed, characterized by a semi-trailing compact habit and moderate branching. Flowers are large and uniquely light pink with purple veins and darker pink stripes along the petals with a yellow center. The new variety is a  Calibrachoa,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrida.

variety denomination: ‘DANOAPRINC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Calibrachoavarieties. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was madeduring January of 2012.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to asCalibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2622’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was anopen pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered inAugust of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting fromthe 2012 crossing, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ was firstperformed by terminal vegetative cuttings during September of 2012, at agreenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation byvegetative cuttings has shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANOAPRINC’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANOAPRINC’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoacultivar:

1. Semi-trailing growth habit.2. Moderately branched growth habit.3. Flower color is a unique combination of light pink with purple veins,darker pink stripes along the petal fusion and a yellow center.4. Large flower size.5. Compact plant.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Calibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2622’ most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ differin the following;

1. Semi-trailing growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a trailinggrowth habit.2. Less well branched than the seed parent.3. Flower color is light pink with purple vein, darker stripes along thepetals and a yellow center, whereas the seed parent has white flowers.4. Larger flowers than the seed parent.5. Compact growth form, whereas the seed parent has a medium size growthform.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ can be compared to the patentedcommercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA49’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,050.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, ‘DANOAPRINC’ differs in the following:

1. The comparator is a medium sized plant, while the new variety is acompact plant.2. The comparator is very well branched, while the new variety ismoderately branched.3. Flower color of comparator is dark pink with a white center, whileflower color of the new variety is light pink with purple veins, darkerpink stripes along the petals and a yellow center.4. Flowering time of the comparator is earlier than that of the newvariety.5. The comparator has more flowers per plant than the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOAPRINC’ can also be compared to thepatented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA53’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,056. These varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, ‘DANOAPRINC’ differs in the following:

1. The comparator is a medium-vigorous sized plant, while the newvariety is a compact plant.2. The comparator is very well branched, while the new variety ismoderately branched.3. Flower color of comparator is light pink with a dark pink center,while flower color of the new variety is light pink with purple veins,dark stripes along the petals and a yellow center.4. Flowering time of the comparator is earlier than that of the newvariety.5. The comparator has more flowers than the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANOAPRINC’ grown in containers overwintered in anunheated hoop house, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence of‘DANOAPRINC’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 60 daysfrom a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The photographs were taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANOAPRINC’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during April of 2015. The plants were approximately 60 daysfrom a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature rangedfrom 18° C. to 35° C. during the days, 15° C. to 25° C. during thenights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa hybrida ‘DANOAPRINC’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—10-14 days at approximately 20-22°            C.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Semi trailing.        -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.        -   Height.—About 8 cm to top of flowering plane.        -   Plant spread.—About 40 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium to low vigor, forming a compact plant.        -   Branching characteristics.—Moderately branched.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 20 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—8.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:            Cylindrical Diameter: about 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green            N144 B Texture: Slightly pubescent Strength: Strong.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate Quantity: Approximately 50 per            branch. Average Length: 3.5 cm. Average Width: 1.2 cm. Shape            of blade: Elliptic Apex: Rounded Base: Acute Margin: Entire            Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of bottom surface:            Velvety Pubescence: Pubescent Color: Young foliage upper            side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A Young foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 B Mature foliage upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147 A Mature foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147 B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color            upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A Venation color under            side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 C Petiole: Length: about 0.5 cm.            Diameter: about 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A            Texture: Velvety.-   Flower.    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer and Autumn under            natural conditions in Israel.        -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 40 days.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single            flower, salverform shape, Upright and outwardly facing.        -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 4 days from bud to fully opened            flower.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—4-7 days.        -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 50.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular Length: about 3.0 cm Diameter: about 0.9            cm Color: RHS Red-Purple 62 D with Purple veins RHS            Red-Purple 64 A.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 4.0 cm. Length: about 2.5 cm.            Flower tube diameter at distal end: about 1.0 cm. Flower            tube diameter at proximal end: about 0.4 cm.        -   Petals.—Length from throat: about 1.5 cm. Width: about 2 cm.            Quantity: 5 Texture: velvety Apex: rounded Margin: entire.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 63 C with            Purple veins and stripes along the petals RHS Red-Purple N            74 A and a Yellow center RHS Yellow 2 A Lower surface: RHS            Red-Purple 62 D with Purple veins RHS Red-Purple 64 A Fully            opened: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 63 D with Purple veins            and stripes along the petals RHS Red-Purple N 74 A and a            Yellow center RHS Yellow 2 A Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple            62 D with Purple veins RHS Red-Purple 64 A.        -   Flower throat (inside).—RHS Yellow 2 A.        -   Flower throat, vein.—RHS Red-Purple 64 A.        -   Flower tube (outside).—RHS Yellow 5 B.        -   Flower tube, vein.—RHS Red-Purple 64 A.        -   Petal color, fading to.—RHS Red-Purple 63 D with Purple            veins and stripes along the petals RHS Red-Purple N 74 B and            a Yellow center RHS Yellow 2 B.        -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Elliptic Length:            about 1.5 cm Width: about 0.5 cm Apex: Acute Base: fused            Margin: entire Texture: velvety Color: Upper Surface: RHS            Yellow-Green 147 A Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 147 B.        -   Peduncle.—Not relevant.        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 2 cm. Diameter: about 0.1 cm. Color:            RHS Yellow-Green N144 A Orientation: 45 degrees from            attachment.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: about 1 cm. Anthers:            Length: about 0.1 cm Shape: Rounded Color: RHS Yellow 7 D            Pollen: Color: RHS Yellow 7 B Quantity: moderate amount.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: about 1.2 cm. Style: Length: about            1.0 cm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 1 C Stigma: Shape: Rounded            Color: RHS Yellow-Green N144 C Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green            N 144 D-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 30 brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5            mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Typical to known Calibrachoa            varieties. Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the            normal diseases and pests of Calibrachoa have been observed.            Pests common to Calibrachoa include Aphids and thrips.            Typical diseases are Botrytis and Pythium.        -   Temperature tolerance.—5° C. to 30° C.        -   Drought tolerance.—No tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘DANOAPRINC’ as herein illustrated and described.